Taking off the training wheels

This week has been really good and productive.  I completed my 12 week training two weeks ago which means we leave the house and hour earlier.  It has been great so  far and we have been able to do a little bit of tracting here and there and have found several new people that are interested in learning more about our church.  Sunday went well also, we had an investigator show up who we have done service for a couple times.  She is from South Africa and is a super nice lady.  She promised us she would come and she did and it was a really good sacrament meeting because there was a sister leaving on a mission so the talks were great and there was a special musical number too.  This Saturday we are having a baptism for someone who has been taught for years and that is super exciting and were so happy for him and the steps he has taken to be ready and prepared.  Im short on time today and I apologize but ill definitely write some more next week and send some pictures home.

Love Elder Visser

Easter Thoughts

Easter week was really awesome and just like conference I have never really appreciated it as much as I have since being on my mission. I spent the whole Easter week reading about his life death and resurrection every morning for my personal studies. We were really excited for church because they were doing musical numbers and it was going to be really special. We also figured we could get a lot of people to come to church as well because even lazy Catholics make it on Easter. We didn't have any investigators show up which was heartbreaking and some would even say unsuccessful. I felt very unsuccessful at first until I started to look for the things to be grateful for. We had a less active show up who hasn't been to church for ten plus years and when he left said you will definitely be seeing more of me here. We also had someone who you might call an investigator come. She has been taught in the past but here dad doesn't allow the missionaries to teach her or come to church. She would be baptized already, she's just basically waiting to turn 18. The fact that she was there at church though was pretty awesome and that was the first time she has ever been and the first time her dad allowed her to go. Even though it may not have seemed like we had that much success there were still miracles that happened. If you take the time you can always find something good from every situation. You don't always measure success off of numbers but off whether you are being obedient and doing all you can. I’ll being emailing home on Tuesday next week because were going to the temple which will be really exciting.

Love Elder Visser

What is our "load" we carry?

This week has been pretty crazy but good crazy.  To start off we had "transfer doctrine" where we find out if we stay or go and both me and my companion will be staying in Trophy Club for another 6 weeks! I’m very happy and excited because we have been making a ton of progress and I know with another 6 weeks we will be able to make a lot of good things happen.  I also went on two exchanges this week and was able to spend time in the district leaders area then a few days later was able to lead my area with the zone leader.  I'm still not a big fan of exchanges but I always learn so much when I go on them.  One cool experience we had was with a man who has had 3 baptismal interviews and passed them but just got drunk right after them.  We have been going by him recently to just let him know we still love him and want to help him.  Just this last week he thought he had a seizure from drinking too much and promised to never drink again.  We sat down and had  a lesson with him and we were able to set a new baptismal date with him.  Like the load of wood on the truck from conference, this was his load.  It took him until then to realize everything.  Sometimes the loads we are given are hard but we can always learn something from them.  I know with another 6 weeks we will be able to do a lot of great things!

Love Elder Visser

Conference report and other good stuff

Conference was amazing and I was able to watch one session in my sweats in sister sperry's house who we live with. Conference weekend was really special!  It was great to hear from the Prophet and his Apostles.  When I first started watching it the first thought that came into my head was how much I took it for granted in the past.  To me it was a day I got to stay home and lay down on the couch while we watched it.  I would be on my phone or Ipod and to be honest my thoughts were not on the conference.  This conference however I was totally focused and it made such a difference.  I was able to personally apply at least one thing that every person talked about to my life.  Some I had to really listen for but as I opened my ears and heart I was able to receive personal revelation.  I watched the Saturday afternoon session at the stake center and me and my companion were the only ones there.  The other sessions we were at less active members houses which was a good experience.  We called one of our investigators to see if she would be able to make the 3 o'clock session to find out she just got back from the 11 o'clock one.  She forgot it started at 11 and went at 12:30.  She got there just in time to hear two hymns and the prophet speak. We even found out that she walked all the way there in the rain.  I was so happy to hear she enjoyed it and was glad that she went even though we didn't have the chance to see her there.  One thing that really stood out to me is how much they emphasized faith.  Faith overpowers your fears.  We have one week left in the transfer and should be figure out the details on whether we stay or go.  Things are going really good here and Im doing my best and working hard.

Love Elder Visser

Great things are happening here

This week has flown by and honestly the past five weeks have flown by too it's crazy.  We went on exchanges with the zone leaders this week and that was really fun.  The zone leaders are always really good example and I’m always able to learn a lot from them in just a matter of 24 hours.  My thoughts blur together sometimes but I don't think I’ve told this story.  We taught a senior in high school about a week ago in a members house who is also in one of her classes.  We had a really good lesson but she told us her parent's are very protective and very catholic.  She has even mentioned that she has a lot of Mormon friends and her parents told her that she better not convert.  Anyways we had a good lesson than a few nights latter we get a text from her saying she talked with her parents and they were totally receptive and they think LDS people are very nice.  So we planned to meet with her again.  That to me is a miracle and blessing no doubt.  She came to church Sunday and had a lot of friends and had a great time and it was really nice to see that.  We also had two farewell talks on sunday and Elder Iglniski and I gave the 5th Sunday lesson to the youth about missionary work so this last sunday was really really good.  There's about 65 active youth in this ward too which is crazy. Only two more weeks left in the transfer and great things are happening here.

Love Elder Visser

 

Doing good is a pleasure, a joy beyond measure!

I’m very much looking forward to general conference. I know it is a lot different when you're a missionary and I can't wait for it. This last Sunday we didn't have anyone show up which was very sad but I know we did everything we could. We either called or stopped by all of our investigators so we did our best. We were also able to do service for Pat's wife the other day and help get her yard cleaned up a little which felt really good. Also because of that service there neighbor asked where we were from which lead to a good conversation and possible interest. The other cool experience we had this week was when one of the Priest from the church had a friend who was interested in the Mormon church. He invited her over and we were able to sit down with her and teach the first lesson and answer a lot of her question's. She asked a very personal question about a death in her family and we were able to share a little about the plan of salvation and the spirit was really strong there and an awesome experience for everyone. Everything is still going really well and I'm very happy here in Texas serving my mission. I need to start taking more pictures so hopefully I’ll have some to send home next week.
 Love Elder Visser

 

 Tulips bloom on Temple Square during the April 2013 general conference. 

The 184th Annual General Conference of the Church is April 5 and 6, 2014.

click on link above for more information 

It's a triple birthday type of day!

Happy Birthday! Hope you have an awesome day and that you enjoyed going to St. George.  Im excited to hear all about it.  It's also my mission presidents birthday today too believe it or not.

We have had an amazing week and have had the most successful one since I have been here in Texas.  We were able to teach a lot of less active and part member families which are always the best.  There are two experiences that stick out that have happened this week.  First is the we are teaching someone who has a date for the 22nd which will be moved to the 29th.  Anyways we taught him the word of wisdom a few weeks back and he had absolutely no  desire to quite.  He said he likes the nicotine and he does not mind the money and basically had no reason to live the word of wisdom.  We went back to teach him this last Tuesday and he brought up on his own how he really wants to quite smoking and knows he will be able to by his baptism date.  I tell that story because to me it was a miracle and also an answer to our prayers.  It was amazing to see how the holy ghost changed his heart and how he was willing to keep the commandment so he can get baptized.  We also went by Pat's wife last night to see how she was doing and we learned that Pat had to have another surgery and was taken from rehab back to the hospital.  She was so exhausted and tired and worn out.  We simply asked if we could do anything for her and offered meals and service and we told her that we love her and care about her and Pat and that we have been praying for them.  She started to cry and thanked us for everything we have done.  Even though we did not teach a lesson it was still a very spiritual experience and we did what the savior would do.  We helped comfort her and gave her some peace and hope.  I love being a missionary and even though there are tough times the good times will always outweigh the bad.  I know this church is the one that was on the earth when Jesus lived and that the Book of Mormon is the word of god.  Thanks for everyone's letters and emails and support I really appreciate it!

Love Elder Visser